Over the last few years, companies have realised that homestay properties on websites such as Airbnb aren’t just for personal holidays. As employees often prefer the home away from home experience, especially for long stays, the popularity of Airbnb for business has soared across the globe. Moreover, the cost of renting out a home on Airbnb is usually less than premium business hotel rooms, which is cutting travel expenses for businesses of all sizes.

Five star hotels may have a plethora of comforts when travelling for work, but Airbnb also has a whole host of benefits for a fraction of the price. Here are some reasons why a growing number of companies are booking home rentals over hotel rooms.

Extended stays

It is much easier – and more cost effective – to book extended stays through a home sharing site. When corporate travellers are staying away from home for weeks or months at a time, they need to find a place where they can relax and feel comfortable with plenty of space.

Group bookings

It’s also simple to be able to book accommodation for a large group, if travelling to a business event, as you can look for properties with multiple rooms. When workers stay in separate hotel rooms a business trip can be quite isolating, yet with a home share there are spaces for socialising and working together.

This year Airbnb has made a huge push for business travel and introduced a new corporate accommodation feature. From 2014 to 2016, UK business spend on Airbnb rocketed 61% according to Concur research, and the homestay platform is now tapping into this market.

Airbnb has now positioned itself to accommodate business travellers with a management tool for companies. Business Travel Ready homes are entire home listings which have 24 hour check in facilities, Wi-Fi, safety features and essentials you’d expect from a hotel such as hairdryers and an iron. The business feature also makes paying easier, allowing stays to be charged directly to the company rather than relying on an employee to pay and then claim it back on travel expenses.

If you’re a host who wants to market your property to corporate travellers, then you can acquire a badge on your listing which qualifies it as Business Travel Ready. There are certain eligibility requirements the property and the host will have to meet. One of these is a 24 hour self-check-in, but don’t worry if you can’t do this yourself as a guest experience service could take care of the details. You’ll also need excellent reviews so guest communication and housekeeping is also important if you want the special business badge.

By appealing to business travellers you could attract more mid-week bookings to increase occupancy, and long extended stays, so why not make your listing Business Travel Ready? Get in touch and we’ll help you achieve your goal.